Two persons, including a security guard, were killed and as many injured in an exchange of fire between two rival gangs in a hospital in Rohtak district in Haryana, police said on Thursday.

Praveen, 35, a member of one of the two gangs who was undergoing treatment at the Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Rohtak, died in the shooting incident along with the guard, Tejveer, Rohtak's Superintendent of Police B Satish Balan told PTI.

Tejveer was killed when he tried to chase the killer, who managed to escape in a vehicle after shooting him.

"Two people have been apprehended in connection with the incident," said V Kamaraj, inspector general of police, Rohtak.

He said the incident took place due to the "carelessness" of the two policemen posted outside the hospital. One sub-inspector and a constable have been suspended in connection with the incident, he said.

Praveen and Jai Bhagwan, both hailing from Julana village in Jind district, were part of rival gangs, and Jai Bhagwan was admitted to the hospital after suffering a bullet injury. Praveen was also in the hospital along with his brother, after the duo met with an accident.

Balan said Jai Bhagwan and his associates suspected Praveen's hand in the attack on him and after seeing him in the hospital, his group opened fire at him. Kamaraj said both Praveen and Jai Bhagwan were liquor vendors.

He also said Praveen was suspected to have been involved in the attack against Jai Bhagwan. Asked how they had managed to carry firearms to the hospital, Balan said that police was investigating this angle.